KR0132213B1 - Anatomically shaped, self-aligning, sanitary protection device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is generally accomplished by forming a three-dimensionally shaped, externally worn feminine protection device (10) which has been mechanically shaped by folding, molding or other forming techniques in such a way that it has a raised portion (34) located within the back one-half to two-thirds of the device that functions to cause the pad to readily fit to and generally align itself within the inverted V-shaped regions of the woman's lower abdominal region, vulva, perineum and the anterior portion between the buttocks. The forward portion (30) of the device of the invention generally is flattened in use to cover externally the area of the pubic mons and the area exterior of the clitoris. The back portion (32) of the device is formed in a peak (34) like shape which readily adjusts to and molds to the inverted V-shape of the rear portion of the labia, the perineum and the forward portion of the area between the buttocks.

Description

Anatomically molded self-aligning hygiene protective devices

1 is a plan view of the pad of the present invention.

2 is a side view of the pad of FIG.

3 is a bottom view of the pad of FIG.

4 and 5 are end views of the pad of FIG.

6 is a perspective view of the pad of FIG.

7 is a cross sectional view along line 7-7 of the pad of FIG.

8 is a cross sectional view along line 8-8 of the pad of FIG.

9 is a cross sectional view along line 9-9 of the pad of FIG.

10 is a rear view of the body wearing the pad of the present invention.

10A is a cross sectional view along line 10A-10A of the pad of FIG. 10;

11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are plan, side, bottom and end views of the pad according to an alternative of the present invention.

16 is a plan view of a pad according to an alternative of the present invention.

17 is a perspective view of the pad of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is the pad of FIG. 16 shaped as in use.

19 is a plan view of a pad according to an alternative of the present invention.

20 is a perspective view of the pad of FIG. 19 in a state before folding.

FIG. 21 is the FIG. 19 pad in the folded state as in use.

22, 23 and 24 are a plan view, a perspective view and a perspective view of the hourglass pad of the present invention in a folded state.

25 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a partial cutaway view of the pad of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a cross sectional view along line 2-2 of the pad of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a cross sectional view along line 4-4 of the pad of FIG. 26; FIG.

29 is a partial cutaway view of a pad according to an alternative of the present invention.

30 is a cross-sectional view along line 5-5 of the pad of FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a cross sectional view along line 6-6 of the pad of FIG. 29; FIG.

32 is a partial cutaway view of a pad of the present invention.

33 is a perspective view of the pad of FIG. 32 in a folded state

FIG. 34 is a bottom view of the pad of FIG. 33 in a folded state;

35 is a partial cutaway view of the pad at 33 degrees in a packed state.

36 is a perspective view of a pad according to an alternative of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10,80,102,120,130,150,170,180,210: Pad 18: Foil strip

20,22: adhesive strip 24: border

26: cover 28: backing sheet

30: front region 34: protrusion

36,38,40 adhesion point 46,48 absorber zone

52: vaginal ball 54: yodogu

56: workplace 58: clitoris

60: pruned 62: perineum

82: protrusion portion 84: flat portion

85,86: Bonding Part 88,90: Seal Strip

92,94,96 Adhesion area 110 Body-side liner

112, 126, 136: protrusion 152: absorber

154: protrusion area 159: transfer layer

162: body side cover 164: backing layer

166: side seal 172: low density layer

174: densified layer 176: body side liner

178: backing layer 182: cover

184: upper transfer layer 186: lower absorber layer

188: backing member 192,194,196: adhesive region

198: strip strip 200,202: adhesive strip

204: packing 214,216: groove

212: protrusion

The present invention relates generally to the field of devices for absorbing body exudate, and more particularly to women's sanitary napkins.

The pads of the present invention can also be used for absorption of urine due to minor incontinence.

Various types of devices or instruments are known for menstrual devices.

In general, two basic kinds of women's protective devices have been provided.

The two devices are sanitary napkins or pads developed to be worn externally and tampons developed to stay in the vagina and block menstrual outflow.

Each of these provided different advantages. Hybrid devices have also been proposed that have been attempted to have a single type of device and have all of their structural advantages.

US Pat. No. 4,631,062 to F. O. Lassen et al. Proposes a particularly advantageous labial pad in that it is a discernible, comfortable and very effective pad.

However, such pads are particularly successful in functioning as a menstrual device when properly positioned, but the wearer's mastery of wearing them in the right position has been difficult due to their small size and unique design.

Within US Pat. No. 4,673,403 it is to improve the placement of the menstrual device of US Pat. No. 4,631,062 to Larson et al. By providing a mark on the body side of the pad to assist in wearing the pad in the correct position on the wearer's body. It is described.

The pads of Larson et al., Although worn in good condition, have the disadvantage that they are not well accepted by consumers because they are so small that they cannot perceive their effects as reliable.

Also, for the best performance, the pads must first be placed on the body and then held in place by the underwear.

This is in contrast to the consumer's general habit of fixing the pads to the consumer's underwear before placing the pads on the body.

Thus, the pad must have the performance advantages of pads such as Larsen and at the same time have improved flexibility in how to wear it in the right place on the body and must also have a larger size that is more reliable to the consumer.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of conventional menstrual devices.

Another object of the present invention is to form a female pad that is self aligned to maintain the correct position of the pad on the body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pad which is prevented from being bunched and twisted when worn.

Another additional object of the present invention is to provide a women's pad that is discreet and comfortable when worn.

In general, these and other objects of the present invention allow the pad to be easily worn in an inverted V-shaped zone consisting of the front part between the female lower abdomen, vulva, perineum and hips, and the pad itself is generally long within the zone. Forming an externally wearable female protective device of three-dimensional shape mechanically formed by folding, molding or other forming techniques to have a ridge portion located within the rear 1/2 to 2/3 of the device to act as Is achieved by.

The anterior portion of the device of the present invention is generally flat to externally cover the jig and external portion of the clitoris.

The back portion of the device is of a peak shape that is easily adjusted and shaped to the reverse V-shape of the back of the labia, the front of the perineum and the area between the hips.

Conventional feminine hygiene protection is largely derived from two types: sanitary napkins or tampons.

Each of these has certain drawbacks.

Sanitary napkins are designed to be worn externally and are therefore prone to failure due to side crunching and shifting.

Also, most pads are flat and very bulky, and because of their flat shape, they tend to leak early over the sides because they are not easily molded to the contours of the female anatomy.

Indeed, the pads rely on the movements and pressures of the user's body and clothing to be applied to the flexion of the body.

As a result, the pads tend to be poorly coordinated and molded to the body and to normal walking motions so that the side edges of the pad are not evenly aligned along the body center line but are inserted into the folds of the hip.

During use, the ends of conventional pads tend to remain unused. In addition, conventional pads generally have long tails and are bulky, so that they protrude noticeably under certain types of fitting garments.

Due to these various problems, fluids build up on the surface and generally show flank deficiency rather than end failure.

Tampons, on the other hand, are designed to be worn in the vagina, so they are much smaller than the pads. Tampons do not have the external volume of the pads, but have certain drawbacks.

Depending on tampons, there are difficulty inserting, internal discomfort during use, and difficulty removing, and in some women there is a psychological and moral rejection of vaginal insertion.

Interlabial pads have been developed that have various successes and eliminate the drawbacks of each of the tampons and pads, while at the same time combining the best features of all of them.

Historically, “large” means protection for women and typically “small” pads are considered useful only at low flow rates.

Thus, due to their relatively small size, labial products that are functionally equivalent to “large” pads give the user a sense of anxiety related to size and the reluctance to learn to wear in the right place.

The present invention, due to its unique shape and structure, overcomes several drawbacks of the aforementioned menstrual politics.

Tampons are generally considered to be more comfortable and convenient, and are less "wet and messy" than pads, especially because they are worn inside.

The external characteristics of the present invention overcome insertion stigmas related to tampons.

In addition, due to its shape, the present invention is more comfortable and easier to carry and wear than conventional external products and also approaches the comfort and convenience of tampons. The shape of the present invention, which is easily adapted to the female anatomy, allows for fluid blockage in the vulva near the outside of the labia, and also overcomes the problem of placement of conventional external products, “wet and messy” problems and other problems. It provides its own sorting characteristics. The relatively larger size of the present invention overcomes the anxiety and positioning problems associated with the “smallness” of some labia products.

The pads of the present invention are not molded into the vestibular like the labia products, but are better suited to the external curvature of the labia and the labia than conventional flat sanitary napkins and pads.

It also exhibits fluid barrier, top staining, and surface drying properties that are closer to labia products than conventional pads of similar construction.

Indeed, the present invention provides visually superior perceptions of protection and safety than any of the conventional flat products and smaller labia products.

The present invention provides a crisp area of the hip and perineum to the extent that the rear portion of the pads allows for an extremely effective external blockage of the exudation, while at the same time giving the user psychological convictions about large and flat conventional sanitary napkins and leakages generally associated with the pads. the pads constructed and shaped in such a way that the front part of the pad is worn over the flat front part of the female vulva and lower abdomen so that it fits well with the part, while matching the creaselike regions and wearing comfortably within the zones. to provide.

The absorbent pad of the present invention is more consistent with the female anatomy than conventional flat pads and is in closer contact with the pubic area.

Improved alignment of the pads minimizes bunching or twisting while providing effective exudation recovery.

In addition, the pads are well-formed for anatomical structure, making them comfortable and discernible during use.

The effect of the pad of the present invention is surprising since it was conventionally considered that a pad folded in an inverted V-type during use was likely to leak.

The pad of the present invention having generally parallel longitudinal sides and rounded ends is inexpensive to shaping and does not require the use of exotic materials and shaping techniques.

These and other advantages of the present invention are described in detail below.

1 to 5 are top, side, bottom and two end views of the pad 10 according to the invention.

The pad has a government 12 and ends 14 and 16.

The pad is equipped with a peel strip 18 on the back side of the front region 30 to cover the two adhesive strips 20 and 22.

The pad has a border 24 where the cover 26 is bonded to the backing sheet 28.

The portion of the pad that forms the front end 14 during use is generally flat as best shown by the region 30 in FIG.

The rear portion 32 is provided with a protrusion 34.

The central region of the protrusion 34 is fixed by the adhesive points 36, 38 and 40 on the back surface 13 of the pad 10.

The protruding portion 32 forms a gradual ridge from the starting point in the region 42 to the end 44.

In use, the pad 10 is positioned such that the flat anterior region 30 extends over the anterior portion of the labia and the anterior portion of the anatomical structure of the woman generally in the dental plaque.

The protruding portion 32 extending from 42 to 44 generally begins within the pudendal cleft posterior portion of the labia adjacent to the vestibule and extends to the perineum and hips.

The exact position of the ridge is varied depending on whether the pad is long enough to extend to the hips area.

6-9 show the pad 10 of the bar formed during use in perspective view in FIG. 6 and in cross-sectional view in FIGS. 7-9.

The front end 30 is recessed to be molded to the jig and lower abdomen.

The posterior part 16 protrudes so that it is located between the legs and between the hips in the perineum.

As shown in the cross sectional view, the present absorber consists of two zones 46 and 48.

Firstly, zone 46 is a transport layer that delivers fluids away from bodyside cover member 26.

10 is a rear view of a woman wearing pad 10 in place.

The figure is a rear view with hips 64 and 66 and legs 68 and 70.

FIG. 10A shows the pad of the present invention positioned in use, in accordance with lines 10A-10A in FIG.

The pad 10 is located on the female body 50.

The body has a vaginal opening 52, a urinary tract 54 and a rectum 56.

The pad is flat or concave portion 30 is positioned relative to the pubic area.

The pad is slightly spaced from the clitoris 58 when in use.

The ridge 34 of the pad is generally outside of the labia.

However, it may extend somewhat between the labia at the site of the vestibule 60.

The pad 10 ends in the perineal region 62 and hardly extends to the rectum 56.

However, longer pads of the present invention can be further extended and comfortable because the raised portion 34 is comfortably coupled between the hips.

11-14 illustrate alternative embodiments of the present invention.

The pad 80 has a raised portion 82 and a flat portion 84.

The pad is provided with extended adhesive portions 85 and 86 covered by the strip strips 88 and 90.

The central area of the protruding portion 82 is secured in place by the adhesive areas 92, 94 and 96 so as to be securely coupled to the wearer's underwear.

16, 17 and 18 degrees show tapered pads 102 having a wider portion 104 in the front and tapered to a narrower rear portion 106.

The pad has edges 108 at the body side liner 110 and backing layer (not shown) combined.

As shown in FIG. 18, when the pad is shaped into an appropriate shape for the pads of the present invention, the rear portion 106 forms a protrusion 112 such that it is located within the perineal and hip portions of the cris, whereas the front portion 104 ) Forms a flat or concave portion to fit the wearer's anterior pubic region and the entire labia.

19-21 show the pad 120 shown in plan view in a pre-fold state.

The pad 120 of FIG. 19 has a rear portion 122 that is larger than the front portion 124. In FIG. 20 before the folding and FIG. 21 after the folding, the perspective view of the pad 120 shows the front portion 124 and the raised protrusion 126 after the pad is folded to form. Having a rear portion 122 having.

The raised protrusion 126 causes a cupping in the front region 124 when molded from the wider portion of the pad.

22, 23 and 24 are pads 130 having an hourglass shape with narrower portions on longitudinal edges 132 and 134.

The pad has a protrusion area 136 raised to the rear portion 138 after it is folded.

The anterior portion 140 remains generally flat and is molded against the wearer's pubis and anterior labia.

Within FIGS. 25, 26, 27, and 28, pad 150 is provided with a thicker absorbent body 152 in the protruding region 154.

This absorber 152 is slit vertically and the regions of the slit are directed upward at 156 to form a raised central portion in the rear portion 158 of the pad 150.

This thicker portion 156 is also covered with a soft transfer layer 159 which serves as an area for transferring fluid to the absorber 152.

Positioning the recesses in the raised portion 160 aids in rapid absorption within the area of the protrusion 154.

The bodyside cover 162 is sealed to the shell or backing layer 164 at the side seal 166. The anterior portion 168 is generally flat to be molded to fit the wearer's anterior pubic area.

An embodiment of a pad 170 having a suitable two-layer absorbent structure is shown in FIGS. 29, 30, and 31 degrees.

The structure is inexpensive and effective because it includes a bodyside symptom 172 with low density wood pulp and a lower layer 174 of densified fluff.

The liquid permeable bodyside liner 176 overlaps the low density layer 172 and the impermeable backing layer 178 is directly under the densification layer.

Such a structure provides good delivery so that fluids are absorbed into the densification layer 174 through the lower density layer 172 on top.

The cover 176 is kept dry by transferring the fluid to the underlying layer 174.

32-35 illustrate pads 180 of the present invention that are easy to mold and pack. Pad 180 has a permeable cover 182.

The absorber is molded into a lower density upper transfer layer 184 and a higher density lower absorber layer 186.

The backing member 188 is molded from an impermeable polymer sheet.

Cover 182 and backing sheet 188 are sealed together by heat or adhesive at edge 190.

The pad shown in perspective view in FIG. 33 and in rear view in FIG. 34 is folded and the center of the folded portion is properly secured at one end by the adhesive regions 192, 194 and 196. .

The pad 180 has a strip strip 198 and two adhesive strips 200 and 202 on the front end of the pad.

As shown in FIG. 35, the pad 180 can be easily packaged in a small package 204 when folded.

36 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the pad 210 has a raised rear portion 212.

The pad has recesses 214 and 216 at places where the raised portion 212 slopes down into the flat front portion 218.

The pad 210 is folded over the line 212 to form a raised portion and folded over the lines 214 and 216 so that the edge portions 220 and 222 face each other when the package is unwound. To form a compact folded product having the shape required for use.

The fold lines in the grooves 214 and 216 extend along the edges where the protruding portion 212 protrudes from the flat front portion 218 and the compressed grooves 214 and 216 are formed of the pad. Together in front is V-shaped.

The contrasting product 180 is required to be further shaped by the user prior to wearing to form a flat front portion and a protruding rear extension portion.

The pads of the present invention are equipped with any absorbent capable of absorbing human exudate.

For the present invention, polyester fibers, rayon fibers, cotton fibers, and mixtures of these fibers, with or without surfactant treatment, are suitable.

Suitable fibers for the present invention are wood fluff fibers and coform nonwoven webs.

The nose is an airformed blend of meltblown polypropylene fine fibers and staple wood fibers.

These materials are suitable because wood fluff is inexpensive. The nose is integrative when it is wet and also inexpensive.

In a suitable form of the invention the absorbent body may be molded into one or more layers of multilayers.

The body-facing layer of absorber is shaped to a lower density to serve as a transfer layer to deliver fluid to the higher density absorbent layer adjacent the backing member.

The higher density absorber suitably absorbs the fluids from the lower density surface layer absorber.

Thus, the layer immediately below the permeable cover is drier and the cover feels drier to the wearer.

The bodyside cover or bodyside liner may be any permeable material that passes human exudates into the absorbent body.

Typically such materials are tissues, perforated films, and woven gaze materials.

Among the thermal bond nonwovens, spunbond polypropylene and polypropylene and rayon blends are suitable for the products of the present invention.

Suitable materials are polyester thermal bond nonwovens of staple fibers having a basis weight of about 10 to 60 gsm, which may or may not be treated with a surfactant as they provide a soft and dry feel to the pads.

A typical cover is a spunlast polyester, marketed “Eontara” by E. I. DuPont Company, which consists of polyester fibers having a reference weight of about 34 grams (g) per meter.

The liquid impermeable backing member may be any material that prevents human exudates from flowing from the body side to the wearer's garment.

Typically such materials are polymer films of polyethylene and polypropylene.

In addition, the polymer films may be bonded with a nonwoven material such as spunbond polypropylene to result in a cloth-like outer cover.

Backing members that are vapor permeable and liquid impermeable may also be used. The water impermeable backing material used in another embodiment of the present invention is a molded foam material that provides the correct pad shape without shaping by the user.

The pad has been described with two absorber layers having different densities than in the preferred embodiment.

However, the pad may also be molded into a single absorber layer.

In addition, a delivery layer with less absorption capacity may be located just below the bodyside cover.

Typically such materials are fibrous materials, such as blends of polyester and rayon with minimal fluid retention properties.

Such materials quickly transfer fluid from the cover to the absorber but do not absorb a sufficient amount of fluid.

Other transfer layers can be airformed or carded webs of polyester, rayon or polypropylene.

The protruding portion of the pad may be fully molded before the pad is supplied to the consumer. Alternatively, the protrusions may only be present in an embronic or precursory state of precursor so that the user can shape the protrusions in the correct state by folding the pad into a preferential fold capable of precursors. It may be.

Such precursors may be longitudinal slit absorbers in the rear portion of the pad or, as shown, a series of adhesive points that form a tuck in the pad. Depending on the nature and composition of the absorbent and backing material, the embryonic protrusion can be shaped in several ways, which refers to thermoset or thermoplastic containing absorbents or thermoplastic backing members.

Other approaches may be conceived by the skilled artisan for the purpose of providing a protrusion precursor or an embryonic fold line, which, in turn, allows the user to, of the pad, as well as the side of the pad away from the body. The body sides help to shape the proper protrusion contour or inverted V-shape of the pad to form the inverted V-shape with the sides inclined away from the protrusion on the body side and the back side of the pad.

The adhesive that forms the jaws in the backing member to provide a starting point for the protrusion when the pad is molded may be winged in any suitable area.

The area where the jaws are held is usually in the middle portion of the latter half of the pad.

The jaw bond is generally positioned to form a folded area of about 3.2 to 9.5 mm (1/8 to 3/8 inch) in the backing material.

This jaw area provides an ebriconic fold that helps shape the pad to form a protruding area that fits well behind the labia, perineum and hips.

The adhesive used may be any suitable adhesive product, including conventional hotmelt construction adhesives used in double sided tape and feminine and diaper products.

The jaw or protrusion precursor regions may also be shaped by thermal bonding.

As noted above, the pads of the present invention generally have a pressure-senisitive garment attachment adhesive on at least a portion of the liquid permeable backing member.

Pressure-sensitive adhesives and seal strips are well known techniques for women's product technology.

The pads of the present invention can be molded to any size suitable for absorption of human exudate.

Generally, the pads have a length of about 17.8 to about 30.5 cm (7 to 12 inches).

Suitable lengths are generally about 17.8 to about 20.3 cm (7 to 8 inches) because they are discernible, effective and easily located in the correct position.

The width is generally about 5.1 to about 10.2 cm (2 to 4 inches).

A suitable width is about 6.4 cm (2.5 inches) for comfortable and effective absorption of menstrual fluids.

In general, pads designed for incontinence for women with mild fecal incontinence are longer than pads designed for menstruation, especially thicker in the posterior part.

The pads of the present invention are nodged by the length and height of the ridges or protrusions in the rear portion by the sharpness to the creases, the arrangement and the length of the adhesive portion which properly secures the array and absorber.

Wrinkles are useful for matching the pads to the contours of the body when the device is placed on the user's body.

The use of pressure-sensitive or cohesive adhesives to join both sides of the fold gold or crease allows the user to selectively and partially break the bond zones to adjust the height of the protrusions for best comfort and protection for the individual's body size. can do.

The longitudinally foldable nature of the pads allows the present invention to be packaged in a longitudinally folded shape and also the projected areas of the flat front and back portions of the present invention after being removed from the package are individually Can be adjusted.

The concave front portion of the pad can be achieved by reversing the folded projection close to the front portion of the pad.

Although the present invention has been described with particular suitable menstrual pads, it is also suitable for pad devices for incontinence protection and other forms of vaginal discharge.

In addition, the pads can be molded in a variety of sizes and shapes to best fit the user's body.

In addition, the pads were first described as useful for women but large pads with concave anterior and protruding posterior are also suitable for men's incontinence.

Such and other variations of the invention are included in the invention and the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims (21)

Crises in the back of the flat front part and perineum, hips and vulva rows, consisting of an impermeable outer cover, a liquid permeable body side web and an absorber between the outer cover and the body side web, for positioning outside the clitoris and jig Consisting of a posterior portion with raised projections for positioning in conformity therewith, wherein the posterior portion of the pad is generally folded at the longitudinal center of the pad to form the projection and is at least about 17.8 cm (7 inches) in length Pad for absorption of exudate. 2. The pad of claim 1 wherein said protrusion of said rear portion is substantially continuous and said protrusion is gradually raised from said flat portion. The pad of claim 1, wherein the pad is generally folded at a longitudinal center of the pad to form the protrusion. 3. The pad of claim 2, wherein said protrusion forms a rear half to two third portion of said pad. 5. The pad of claim 4 wherein said continuous protrusions are shaped by longitudinal corrugations. The pad of claim 1, wherein said pad is about 6.4 cm (2.5 inches) wide. The pad of claim 1 wherein said pad is comprised of a concave shaped front portion. The pad of claim 1, wherein the pad has an hourglass shape. The pad of claim 1, wherein said posterior protrusion extends to an area between hips. The pad of claim 1, wherein a higher density absorber layer is adjacent to the backing layer and a lower density absorber is adjacent to the body side web. The pad of claim 1, wherein the fraud pad is about 17.8 to about 30.5 cm (7 to 12 inches) long. 12. The pad of claim 11, wherein the pad is about 5.1 to 10.2 cm (2 to 4 inches) wide. The pad of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is molded by an adhesively fixed tuck. The pad of claim 13, wherein the jaw is about 3.2 to about 9.5 mm (1/8 to 3/8 inch). The pad of claim 13, wherein the adhesive bond of the jaw can be partially broken to shape the pad. The pad of claim 2, wherein the protrusion extends to the rear end of the pad. The pad of claim 1, wherein the pad is transverse to the front end at the pad rear end. The pad of claim 1, wherein the pad is transversely transverse in the rear region than the front region. 3. The pad according to claim 2, wherein the pad has recesses extending from the starting point for both lines near the front of the pad to form a V-shape extending on each side of the protrusion. 20. The pad according to claim 19, wherein the pad is folded by a pleat along the line of the protrusion such that the sides of the backing sheet contact each other and by the pleats on the groove such that body side regions outside the grooves contact each other. Pad folded. 2. The pad of claim 1, wherein the pad is adapted to produce raised projections forming the pad in an inverted V-shape such that the rear portion is positioned in line with the crises of the perineum and hips.

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